forgo

verb

for·​go fȯr-ˈgō 

variants or less commonly forego

forwent fȯr-ˈwent  ; forgone fȯr-ˈgȯn 

also -ˈgän

; forgoing fȯr-ˈgō-iŋ 

-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ

; forgoes

fȯr-ˈgōz

transitive verb

1

: to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without

… never forwent an opportunity of honest profit …

—Robert Louis Stevenson

decided to forgo dessert for a few days …

2

archaic : forsake

forgoer

fȯr-ˈgō-ər 

noun

Synonyms of forgo

• avoid

Examples of forgo in a Sentence

She is planning to forgo her right to a trial and simply plead guilty.

I'll forgo dessert tonight—I'm trying to lose weight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Prince William was the first high-ranking member of the British Royal Family to attend Eton College, forgoing Gordonstoun which his father, King Charles III, and paternal grandfather, Prince Philip, attended. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 July 2026

Her arrangements aim for modern classicism, placing familiar instruments—guitars, mandolins, Wurlitzer pianos—in polished productions that forgo twists or anthemic buildups. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

At Harvard Business School, 17% of the class of 2025 reported plans to forgo seeking a traditional job in favor of launching their own businesses—more than double the 8% who said the same in 2021. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 July 2026

The supermodel, 61, broke tradition by forgoing a white dress at her wedding, opting instead for a silver sleeveless gown from House of Gilles Couture. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English forgān to pass by, forgo, from for- + gān to go

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forgo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

forgo

verb

for·​go

variants also forego

fȯr-ˈgō, 

fōr-

forwent

-ˈwent

; forgone -ˈgȯn 

also -ˈgän

; forgoing -ˈgō-iŋ 

: to let pass

forgo an opportunity

: go without

forgo lunch